On Jan. 17, the Horizon Foundation joined Sugar Free Kids Maryland, the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo), the American Heart Association, Sierra Club and other members of the LOCAL Maryland coalition to announce the coalition’s legislative agenda for the 2020 Maryland General Assembly session.
Headlining the agenda is a bill that would ensure that local jurisdictions would have assumed authority unless otherwise stated in state statue – known as “implied preemption.” The bill aims to prevent the courts and the states from superseding laws passed by local governments by improving transparency and giving judges more guidance in determining which laws or regulations take precedent.
LOCAL Maryland will also work this session to prevent potential preemption measures in other issues that the legislature is expected to debate.
One size does not fit all when it comes to creating state laws. However, special interest groups are increasingly blocking cities, towns and counties from passing laws that meet the needs of local residents by introducing preemption amendments in specific legislation at the state level. This harms the ability of local governments to pass measures that would benefit their residents’ health, environment and overall quality of life.
The Horizon Foundation believes that it is critical for our local community and others to be able to pass their own laws that benefit residents, including ones to improve and protect public health.
Learn more about the coalition’s legislative agenda at LOCAL Maryland’s website.
